[Atlas of Gacha Haven, Seeker Div 1, has accepted the defensive challenge from Neron of Ember Stone Isle.]
Another island approached Gacha Haven, its dark silhouette growing larger as it drifted closer. Standing at the edge of the foreign isle was a striking figure.
A tall warrior with fiery red hair streaked with black stood, his glowing amber eyes surveying Gacha Haven. He was clad in obsidian armor that gleamed faintly like molten rock, and a tattered red scarf hung over one shoulder. His left arm was wrapped in a gauntlet that pulsed with ember-like energy, with faint flames flickering at his fingertips.
There was no doubt—this was the Lord of Ember Stone Isle.
Fiery warrior? More like a blazing drama king. Look at that hair, that armor, that flaming hand. He's trying too hard.
The warrior, Neron, called out with an irritated edge to his voice.
"Hey! Where the hell is everyone on this island?" he shouted. His voice boomed, filled with arrogance as his eyes darted around the seemingly quiet terrain.
Before him was a peculiar sight. The island appeared desolate, with only a few scattered structures visible. Standing directly ahead, however, was a single man—a figure in a disheveled black suit, messy hair, and eyes filled with a nervous twitch.
The man was shuffling a deck of cards, looking more like a flustered street magician than a proper opponent.
Neron squinted in disbelief. "Hey, you dumbass! Are you the Lord of this island?"
The nervous man stammered in response, barely managing to raise his voice. "Uhm… I am… a… ma-magician…"
He hesitated, then added weakly, "Want to see a magic trick?"
Before Neron could respond, the man clumsily tossed the deck of cards into the air, flailed to grab a few mid-fall, and awkwardly juggled them before fumbling the rest to the ground.
He awkwardly shuffled the scattered cards back together, pulling one out to make it vanish, only to drop it moments later.
"What the—?!" Neron growled. "What is this?! Useless! This is the stupidest island I've ever attacked!" He clenched his fists, flames flaring at his side.
"No matter. I'll still give you a beautiful death, you bumbling fool!"
The supposed magician took a hesitant step back, his shuffling hands trembling.
[The battle begins now.]
Minutes after, the announcement came and the battlefield stirred to life. A portal opened on one side of the island, and through it stepped Neron, the blazing drama king, followed by his subordinates.
But this wasn't the grand entrance one might expect in war. No, they strolled out casually, as if heading for a lazy meetup rather than a full-scale battle.
All their attention was focused on one target—the nervous "magician" who had "entertained" them earlier.
Milo stood in the open, his face pale and his knees shaking so badly it seemed they might give out at any moment. His hands trembled as he clutched his deck of cards, and beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.
"Hey, you dumbass!" Neron barked. Flames flickered from his obsidian armor, making him look even more menacing.
Gacha Haven's troops hiding under the Rank-A Item: Veilstone Cloak couldn't help but envy his intimidating gear.
"Don't mess with me," Neron growled, stepping closer. "Where's your Lord? Or… don't tell me—you're the Lord?"
Flames around him flared brighter. "You think it's funny to play games with me, huh?"
Milo stumbled backward in panic, his legs weak beneath him. Suddenly, he tripped, landing hard on his rear, his cards scattering around him in all directions.
"P-please! Don't hurt me!" Milo cried, his voice trembling. He threw up his hands to shield his head. "I-I can show you another magic trick! Anything! Just… just don't hurt me, please!"
Neron and his subordinates circled around Milo.
"Hey, look at this pathetic magician… is he really this useless?"
"Seriously, how the hell did someone as weak as this guy get chosen as a Lord? Talk about bad luck."
"Maybe he's faking it."
"No way," another laughed. "Give it five seconds, and I bet he'll wet his pants from fear."
Their laughter grew louder as they closed in.
"What do you think we should do with him?"
"Kill him?"
"Nah, not yet," another interjected. "Let's have some fun first. Torture him a bit, see if he's just pretending… or if he's actually this useless."
"Hahaha!" They roared with laughter.
Atlas and the others watched the scene unfold from their hidden vantage point, quietly discussing the situation.
"This was your idea, Edrik," Atlas said.
Edrik nodded, his tone calm. "Of course. It's the most efficient way to deal with opponents like these."
Karian scoffed, his arms crossed. "That smug bastard of a Lord. I'd much rather crush him with my own fists."
Edrik smirked. "No need to rush. Handling battles this way keeps things… interesting. It's all about strategy, Karian."
"Don't talk to me about keeping it interesting," Karian growled. "I've fought for over a hundred years, and I've never gotten bored."
"Not everyone has a one-track mind for combat like you do, Karian."
Nearby, some of the troops chimed in, stifling their laughter as they watched Neron's group bully Milo.
"Man, I almost feel bad," one of them said.
"For Milo? Because he's being bullied like that?"
"No," the soldier replied with a grin. "For them. They have no idea what they're dealing with."
The group chuckled quietly.
Suddenly, everyone froze as a massive wave of energy erupted from Milo's direction, sending a shockwave across the battlefield.
Milo—no, Raze—had emerged. His form had transformed, his body now towering and rippling with power. Tendrils of dark energy lashed out from his frame, writhing like living shadows.
The enemy troops staggered back, weapons shaking in their hands, their faces drained of color.
Neron, the blazing Lord, visibly tensed. He shoved his own soldiers forward as he retreated a few steps.
"What the hell just happened? Why did he suddenly change like that?!"
One of his subordinates stammered, "M-my Lord—"
"Don't panic! He's just one guy!" Neron barked, his voice faltering for a moment. "Attack him! Overwhelm him!"
Raze's booming voice cut through their panic. "You brainless idiots! Have you written your wills yet? Because I'm sending you straight to your families in the Lower Lands!"
With a deafening roar, Raze launched himself forward, moving so quickly that the air around him seemed to warp. His massive hand smashed into a group of soldiers, sending them flying across the island before tumbling off into the void below.
"Attack! Attack him now!" Neron screamed.
The enemy troops surged forward, swords slashing and spears thrusting, but nothing penetrated Raze's aura. Their strikes bounced off harmlessly, as though they were hitting an impenetrable wall.
Raze grabbed one soldier by the head, lifting him effortlessly. With a swift motion, he hurled the man into the distance, the soldier's scream fading as he disappeared into the sky.
The battlefield descended into chaos. Raze moved with terrifying speed, his massive arms swinging in devastating arcs. He tore through the enemy formation, bodies flying in every direction as he pummeled and smashed them with relentless fury.
The soldiers couldn't keep up—they couldn't even flee. In moments, Raze had wiped out the bulk of Neron's troops, leaving behind only trembling survivors too paralyzed with fear to even move.
"You stupid asshole! You're not walking away without a fight!" Neron roared, an explosive surge of fire erupting around him.
The blazing warrior's entire body became engulfed in flames, the heat so intense that the ground beneath him scorched and cracked.
"How the hell is he doing that?" one of Atlas's hidden troops whispered.
Neron's voice boomed. "With this blazing power, I can move faster than ever—gifted by the blessing of the Fire Elemental Spirit!" He slammed his fists together, sending sparks flying as the flames around him flared even brighter.
"I'll kill—"
Before he could finish, Raze appeared in front of him in an instant, his massive hand already gripping Neron's face with bone-crushing force.
"Shut up, idiot!" Raze snapped. "Save it for your fall to the bottom!"
With a guttural roar, Raze hurled Neron like a ragdoll, his fiery form streaking through the air like a firework, until he vanished completely from sight.
[You successfully defeated the opposing Lord during the defense.]
[You have earned 15 rank points.]
[Bonus: An additional 10 rank points awarded.]
[You are entitled to claim the opponent's resources.]
[Congratulations on your victory!]
[Your island size will be upgraded.]
[You have received 650 Arcane Shards.]
[You have earned 17,240 EXP.]
***
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